The Calgary Stampede and Exposition
The Calgary Stampede and Exhibition is rich in tradition and is also known for the cowboy atmosphere that takes over the city, everyone breaks out their cowboy boots and Stetson hats for 10-11 days of good fun. This year (2006) kicks off with the Calgary Stampede Parade on July 7th. The dedicated volunteers and supporters of the Calgary community present the World’s Largest Western Parade as the “World’s Greatest Outdoor Show” to more than 350,000 en route spectators and a global television audience.
In 1912 the great Stampede of Guy Weadick’s vision was born. Guy was a famous hard-working cowboy and vaudeville performer who appeared in the Wild West traveling shows that were popular around the world in the early 20th century. He was a man with a dream to celebrate the romance of the Old West. The Stampede we enjoy today has evolved from Guy’s vision. He was successful because he understood that as much as things change, we need to believe in the way things were. Every year, Stampede reminds us that Guy was right; We fundamentally believe in the same Western values today as our grandparents did in 1912.
In the early 1920s, the Show portion was added to the Stampede, giving Western farmers and ranchers a showplace for their horses and cattle. This was also later expanded to include all farm cattle, whether two or four legged. This year, 2006, the agricultural portion of the Expo has been labeled “City Activity Day” to help celebrate Alberta agriculture. Producers of cattle, canola, chicken and even eggs will be in attendance. You’ll see beef on the hoof, enjoy some Alberta beef, and be able to grab a bumper sticker that says “I Love Alberta Beef.” That should impress the people of Long Island, though perhaps you should exercise discretion when exhibiting in Texas cattle country!
Every year there are hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world who come just for the Stampede and the Exhibition. Among those visitors are several RV caravans heading north from the US on the long journey to Alaska. Some of these caravans have over a hundred units of all shapes and sizes and are scheduled to arrive in Calgary the day before the Parade, which is always a Friday, and stay through the weekend, departing Monday morning.
A highlight of the show is, of course, the Rodeo. The Calgary Stampede rodeo pays out some of the biggest prize money in the sport, always attracts the best riders and ropers from around the world, and many of its winners have won the National Rodeo Finals in the fall.
Like any sport, rodeo has its fair share of spills and thrills, talented athletes, and unsung heroes. In addition to horse and bareback riding events, bull riding is always a big draw. The ladies have barrel racing competitions. For comic relief (except for the contestants) there is a wild cow milking event. Every night there are wagon races, followed by the Grandstand Show.
In case you don’t know about rodeos, here’s a little “Rodeo 101.” There are two main categories of events, bucking and timed. Bucking is where most of the thrills, spills and crashes happen. Bucking events cover bareback and saddle bronco riding and bull riding. In all three events, the cowboys cling to their lives as they try to control the movements of their animal and themselves. By the way, the “spurs” of the contestants were nothing more than a smooth disc and have no effect on the animal. They use them because the rider is judged on the smoothness of his ride and his spur technique as he holds on to a saddle or rope with one hand. These represent half of his points, the other half being awarded for how hard the horse or bull tried to bring him down. To complete the ride, it must stay on for 8 seconds; that’s a lot of time on the back of a bucking horse or bull.
Barrel Racing, Steer Wrestling and Tie Ties are the timed events at rodeos. Steer wrestling and tie tying are inspired by the real work that goes on every day on the ranch. In the steer fight, a stunned steer (hit in the butt with a straw hat) is released from his pen. When he reaches the end of his head start, a snapping rope automatically releases the barrier rope in front of the cowboy, allowing him to run after the steer on his horse. He carefully climbed down the right side of his horse, reaching for the steer. Having grasped the horns, he leaves his horse (which is galloping) and digs his heels into the ground to slow the animal down. Using the leverage and momentum of the moving steer, the steer wrestler rolls the animal on its side.
Being fast and accurate with a rope aren’t the only requirements in Tie-down Roping (also called Calf Roping, but they’re great calves!). A successful roper must also be an experienced horseman and a fast sprinter. After tying (throwing a lasso, again at full gallop – every rodeo event is done at full gallop!) animal, picks it up and lays it on its side and ties any of its three legs together. Once he completes his tether, he remounts his horse and allows the noose rope to slacken, the animal must remain tethered for six seconds. It is important to note that contestants are fined for any unnecessary roughness.
For the final timed event, Barrel Racing, the contestants must circle three barrels in the shape of a clover. The rider or horse can move a barrel, but a five-second penalty is imposed if either knocks over the barrel. Fastest time wins in this extremely athletic event for both horse and rider.
Wagon races were taken from royal cattle drives, when the cart was loaded, the tent was taken down, and the cook led his team past the drive to where the herd would spend the night. Sometimes there were two or three ranches driving together. The cooks competed with each other to get the best place to set up camp. Chuckwagon races at the Stampede are billed as “The Half Mile From Hell.” Each chuckwagon has its driver, a team of four horses, and four escorts (cowboys riding their horses). There are four wagons, four drivers, 16 horses, and sixteen escorts, all vying for the same space by the rail as they run at full gallop. a half mile track. There’s a really loud air horn going off to start the race, there’s an announcer going crazy over the PA system as he calls for the race, the cars and horses are thundering around the track and the crowd is on its feet at the end screaming like crazy. Sound crazy? Yes. Exciting? You have to see it to believe it. There is nothing like that. And in five minutes, the next race is on and it starts all over again!
There are people who travel thousands of miles every year to attend “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. They will reserve their rooms for next year before going home this year. It is fans like these, from near and far, who continue to make the Calgary Stampede and Exhibition what it is.